We are delighted to inform you that Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA is collaborating as ‘Academic Partner’ at the 4th Lex Witness Legal Summit on Banking and Finance, 2017. The Summit will take place in JW Marriott, Juhu, Mumbai on June 23, 2017.

BANKING - As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s banking sector is sufficiently capitalised and well regulated. The financial and economic conditions in the country are far superior to any other country in the world. Indian banking industry has recently witnessed the roll out of innovative banking models like payments and small finance banks. The central bank granted in-principle approval to 11 payments banks and 10 small finance banks in FY 2015-16. RBI’s new measures may go a long way in helping the restructuring of the domestic banking industry.

The Indian banking system consists of 26 public sector banks, 25 private sector banks, 43 foreign banks, 56 regional rural banks, 1,589 urban cooperative banks and 93,550 rural cooperative banks, in addition to cooperative credit institutions. Public-sector banks control nearly 80 percent of the market, thereby leaving comparatively much smaller shares for its private peers. Banks are also encouraging their customers to manage their finances using mobile phones. Standard & Poor’s estimates that credit growth in India’s banking sector would improve to 11-13 per cent in FY17 from less than 10 per cent in the second half of CY14.

FINANCIAL SERVICES - The financial sector in India is predominantly a banking sector with commercial banks accounting for more than 64 per cent of the total assets held by the financial system. The Government of India has introduced several reforms to liberalise, regulate and enhance this industry. The Government and Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have taken various measures to facilitate easy access to finance for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). These measures include launching Credit Guarantee Fund Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, issuing guideline to banks regarding collateral requirements and setting up a Micro Units Development and Refinance Agency (MUDRA). With a combined push by both government and private sector, India is undoubtedly one of the world's most vibrant capital markets.

Mergers and acquisition (M&A) activity in India rose 125 per cent year-on-year to US$ 32.5 billion across 445 deals during January-September 2016. Domestic M&A deal value stood at US$ 7.3 billion across 137 deals during July-September 2016, which is around 65 per cent of the total M&A deal value of US$ 11.3 billion during the quarter. Private equity (PE) investments in real estate sector in India have increased 22 per cent in the first nine months of 2016 to reach Rs 283 billion (US$ 4.24 billion), as compared to the same period in 2015. Funds mobilised by Indian companies through non-convertible debentures (NCDs) increased sixteen- fold to Rs 23,901.4 crore (US$ 3.58 billion) during April-September 2016 led by growing investor appetite. The assets under management (AUM) of the mutual fund (MF) industry grew 45 per cent to Rs 17.89 lakh crore (US$ 268.35 billion) during March 2016 to February 2017.

INSURANCE - Government's policy of insuring the uninsured has gradually pushed insurance penetration in the country and proliferation of insurance schemes are expected to catapult this key ratio beyond 4 per cent mark by the end of this year, reveals the ASSOCHAM latest paper. The number of lives covered under Health Insurance policies during 2015-16 was 36 crore which is approximately 30 per cent of India's total population. The number has seen an increase every subsequent year as 28.80 crore people had the policy in the previous fiscal. During April 2015 to March 2016 period, the life insurance industry recorded a new premium income of Rs 1.38 trillion (US$ 20.54 billion), indicating a growth rate of 22.5 per cent.

The general insurance industry recorded a 12 per cent growth in Gross Direct Premium underwritten in April 2016 at Rs 105.25 billion (US$ 1.55 billion). The life insurance industry reported 9 per cent increase in overall annual premium equivalent in April-November 2016. In the period, overall annual premium equivalent (APE)- a measure to normalise policy premium into the equivalent of regular annual premium- including individual and group business for private players was up 16 per cent to Rs 1,25,563 crore (US$ 18.76 billion) and Life Insurance Corporation up 4 per cent to Rs 1,50,456 crore (US$ 22.48).

Summit Concept

In a tough operating environment for banking and financial service providers with a slowing domestic economy and modest recovery at global and an increased focus on tightening regulatory and governance structures. There have been a number of regulatory initiatives over the past year, which seeks to enhance the quality of risk-based supervision and better oversight over financial conglomerates.

Through a lot of its initiatives and notifications, the apex bank - The RBI has clearly maintained a stance towards repairing and revival based mechanism as far the NPAs are concerned. There are indications that level of stressed assets which includes both NPAs as well as restructured assets are going up. With the IBC coming into inception & play it is indeed a very encouraging note to commence the new banking era and times for India Inc. Although, while on one hand there is a lot of positivity that the economy sees but on the other hand we have a sea of questions facing the impact and assessment of how the code protects the borrower and lender interests.

The insurance penetration in the country is still very low and most of the people buy insurance for tax savings purposes. With understanding of what the ‘service is’, there continue to be and increasing number of disputes, resulting in litigations across consumer forums, ombudsman and other courts.

Changes in regulation and number of agencies involved in regulatory oversight, the necessity to ensure a quick and effective response to identifying potential lNPA and action plan for recovery means- a need to understand and analyse each aspect critically, work with stakeholder, senior management and on organizational level to quickly adapt process and work structure to drive efficiency.
It is against this background that The Lex Witness 4th Annual Banking and Finance Legal Summit 2017 is being organised with more focus on practical knowledge sharing. With a combination power packed panel discussions focused on topical subject, the summit proves out to be a good investment of your time to analyse, interpret and strategize your current and future response to legal, regulatory and compliance challenges.

Dr. Meenakshi Kaul,
Head-Academic Initiatives, Research and Publication,
Symbiosis Law School, NOIDA
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